Schoology sucks

In the glittery, mundane world of 21st century online learning, there is no piece of software so ubiquitously despised and mind-numbingly terrible as Schoology. FCPS switched to the platform this school year, but Google Classroom was better in pretty much every way.

A few years ago, FCPS formed a commission of students, teachers and administrators to investigate online learning platforms. They found multiple issues: some teachers used Blackboard while others used Google Classroom, parents couldn’t access Classroom and every teacher’s page was different. Replacing Google Classroom and Blackboard with Schoology was their solution.

On paper, the decision was perfect. Parents could see their children’s assignments, something Classroom did not permit; clubs could form “groups” that didn’t clutter the same space as main classes; and it worked with Google’s education programs like Drive and Docs, which still form the majority of what students use.

Although Schoology solved these problems, it ultimately caused more issues. It is not well organized for students to find and submit assignments. Its file structure is similar to a Russian nesting doll, with never-ending folders that are impossible to navigate.

“I don’t put in a lot of assignments, but when I do, Schoology can be a little bit tricky,” theater teacher Phil Reid said. “Because you have to click so many times with Schoology to get to a certain point, it’s really annoying.”

To make the experience more infuriating, McLean’s administration asked teachers to organize content into weeks instead of units, making it harder to find materials in an already confusing layout.

The platform is reminiscent of a 2009 Facebook product. Web technology shifted away from the tiny buttons and endless buffering that plague the entire platform, leaving it years behind Classroom.

In a general benchmark, Google Classroom webpages loaded in an average of 2.05 seconds, while similar Schoology pages took an average of 3.65 seconds. Schoology is nearly 50% slower than Classroom, a difference that wastes precious class time.

Though Schoology does integrate with Google’s education products, it is poorly

New platform intended to solve issues causes more headaches implemented. As a AKASH BALENALLI WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GHADA MOUSSA REPORTER result, users report having to repeatedly sign in to their school Google accounts just to access class materials. The Android and iOS apps also have issues with Google integration, rendering them useless to some users. “It is great that Google integrates with Schoology, but there are all these weird error messages that can occur,” school-based technology specialist Ashley Lowry said. “If that integration was better, I think that nobody would mind Schoology.” Google Classroom was developed inhouse, so it works cohesively with the company’s other applications. There’s no BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO need to attach accounts and open new windows—everything just works. CLICK SO MANY TIMES The most unusual circumstance in the move to Schoology is the fact users can still WITH SCHOOLOGY TO GET technically access Google Classroom; it’s TO A CERTAIN POINT, IT’S included in the suite that includes Docs and other Google software products. Why make REALLY ANNOYING.” the change, then, if it already comes with the most-used products and integrates perfectly - PHIL REID with them? THEATER TEACHER In a learning environment with less techsavvy teachers, hundreds of computers simultaneously overloading a strained network and low-end laptops struggling to process webpages, simplicity and efficiency are vital. FCPS still has a chance to switch to a better platform in future years. For now, students and teachers will need to deal with their nightmarish, outdated, 2000s-era learning platform.

CURRENT CONTACT TRACING IS INEFFECTIVE

Fairfax County’s system isn’t enough to keep people safe

OMAR KAYALI REPORTER

The return to in-person learning brought many changes to FCPS’s policies, all aimed at keeping students safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most important regulations in practice this year is contact tracing, which included requiring seating charts for each class. However, the lack of transparency and depth with which the county is carrying out this process is dangerous and poses a serious risk to students and teachers.

Contact tracing at McLean occurs only if a COVID-19 case in a class is self-reported. Once word has spread, students within that class are notified. However, students move around the building so much throughout the day that, paired with the school’s overpopulation, COVID cases may not be related to a student’s tablemate at all. Especially in classes where moving around is necessary, it is often unclear what the source of coronavirus cases are.

“We start in our seating chart, but it doesn’t stay that way for long,” yearbook adviser Meghan Percival said. “It would be impossible for us to do our job sitting in our classroom, in one desk, for the whole period.”

Journalism is similar in that sense. As a staff, we cannot do our work properly without moving around, talking to editors and designers, conducting interviews and collaborating with each other. The amount of social interaction required is too much for such loose contact tracing guidelines to keep up and be effective.

Some classrooms have QR codes on their tables, intended to be used for contact tracing in that room. While the idea is nice, both staff and students completely disregard the codes, not using them whatsoever throughout the day.

Extracurriculars also add to the risk since sporting events and clubs do not require any form of contact tracing. With masks not being worn by most students at sporting events, tracing COVID cases simply by asking people who they were around is incredibly dangerous and unreliable.

While athletes will be required to be vaccinated starting next month, this is not enough. There is no vaccine requirment for the general student body, so the school will always be at risk. This further emphasizes the importance of effective contact tracing at large gatherings, particularly extracurriculars.

Most clubs do keep track of their attendance during meetings, but there are no policies in place to actually trace potential COVID-19 cases. Just knowing who was there does nothing to help trace the source of a case if further action is not taken. Unless club sponsors independently keep track of the students, it would be virtually impossible to know where a case originated from.

As long as any COVID-19 risk is present at McLean, effective contact tracing will be necessary. In-person learning’s safety depends on being able to reliably and efficiently track the spread of COVID, so having such ineffective policies puts everyone at great risk.

Considering the amount of time before the the school year for effective contact tracing to be set up, the lackluster exuse for tracking we have now is disappointing.

Given how important contact tracing is to keeping in-person learning safe and running, improvements need to be made. Changes such as special requirements for classes which demand students to move around a lot, tracking Highlander Time movement, staggering class release times to limit hallway crowding and beginning to track sporting events and club meetings are necessary steps to improve the effectiveness of McLean’s preventative measures.

If the school hopes to safely continue in-person learning through the year, they must improve their contact tracing policies.

IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO DO OUR JOB SITTING IN OUR CLASSROOM, IN ONE DESK, FOR THE WHOLE PERIOD.”

- MEGHAN PERCIVAL YEARBOOK ADVISER

SKIRTS IN SPORTS NEED TO GO

Field hockey and lacrosse skirts make gameplay difficult

ISABELLA DIPATRI SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER JOSEPHINE PHILLIPS REPORTER

Visions of field hockey players pulling down their spandex is a common occurrence on the McLean turf field. Uniforms, specifically skirts, have always been a huge point of contention within women’s teams. Girls’ uniforms in sports like field hockey and lacrosse cause players discomfort and restrict their play.

A welcomed alternative would be switching from the tight skirts to shorts.

“I do not like the skirts. They are uncomfortable and I have to wear spandex under them,” freshman lacrosse player Hannah Boyle said. “I think these uniforms should be changed so sports can be more enjoyable and women can be more comfortable playing.”

Many players find themselves constantly having to pull down their spandex to cover themselves rather than focusing on their games.

“I spend a large portion of my time on the field adjusting the straps of my jersey or the length of my skirt,” senior lacrosse player Maggie Malone said. “The spandex I have to wear just to cover myself are constantly riding up, making running uncomfortable.”

Another issue with the field hockey and lacrosse uniforms is the lack of consistency.

“It’s interesting [that] we only practice in shorts and play in skirts, which could be annoying because we never practice in those,” said Emily Geary, the new girls varsity lacrosse coach.

In addition to being uncomfortable and inconsistent, the skirts do not suit many body types. They are the same length all the way around, and on larger players they tend to be tight. With a uniform that does not fit athletes’ body shape or size, running and any sort of competitive play is exponentially more difficult.

The skirts come in small, medium and large, but they are often smaller than what the label says. Women who usually wear a size medium in clothes squeeze into a large. Where does that leave players who need even bigger clothing sizes?

Smaller players often have to roll the elastic of the skirt because they do not fit their waists. The skirts will start to slip down in the middle of games, which can cause players to miss catching, passing or shooting a ball.

“There is absolutely no need for girls to wear skirts when the boys lacrosse teams wear shorts and play just the same,” Malone said.

Many female players agree with Malone, as they find the difference in the uniforms sexist.

“I play both lacrosse and field hockey,” junior Sabrina Berry said. “The skirts have gotten in the way of my gameplay, and I think I would be more confident on the field wearing shorts.”

Shorts in women’s sports may increase a player’s ability to win more games by reducing discomfort and increasing concentration during games. If the McLean field hockey and girls lacrosse teams value their players, as well as their teams’ chances at success, they should switch their uniforms from skirts to shorts.

THE SPANDEX I HAVE TO WEAR JUST TO COVER MYSELF ARE CONSTANTLY RIDING UP, MAKING RUNNING UNCOMFORTABLE.” Preferred Uniforms

- MAGGIE MALONE SENIOR

for girls Lacrosse AND Field Hockey Games*

*in a poll of 18 players

36.8% Shorts

36.8% It doesn’t matter

26.3% Skirts